Construction of hole‐transported MoO_3‐x coupled with CdS nanospheres for boosting photocatalytic performance via oxygen‐defects‐mediated Z‐scheme charge transfer

Abstract

The establishment of Z‐scheme charge transfer between semiconductors is an effective method to improve the performance of hybridized semiconductor photocatalysts. Herein, the novel photocatalysts consisting of MoO3‐x and varying amounts of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanospheres were successfully prepared via the one‐pot hydrothermal method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). It is indicated that the PVP not only served as the reducing agent for the formation of oxygen defects in MoO3‐x, but also the cross‐linking agent for the coupling between MoO3‐x and CdS. The CdS/MoO3‐x composite allowed for higher visible‐light photocatalytic performance for enhanced removal of methylene blue and tetracycline with an efficiency of 97.6% and 85.5%, respectively. The improved performance of the CdS/MoO3‐x composite was found to be mainly attributable to the remarkable charge carrier separation and transfer between CdS and MoO3‐x based on the favorable hole‐transporting nature and oxygen deficiencies of MoO3‐x. In addition, the hole‐oxidized photocorrosion of CdS was efficiently suppressed due to the presence of hole‐attractive MoO3‐x. At the solid interface, an oxygen‐defects‐mediated Z‐scheme charge carrier transfer pathway was proposed as the underlying mechanism for the superior photocatalytic reaction.

Single-step growth of MoO3 nanorods via magnetron sputtering

“…4d–f). 53,54 No significant shift is observed in the position of the O 1s peak with a change in the gas flow ratio, which indicates that the shifts in the Mo 3d peak positions are not related to energy referencing. 55 From the XPS results, the ratios of concentrations of Mo 6+ and Mo 5+ species in the MoO 3 NRs prepared at Ar : O 2 ratios of 20 : 0, 20 : 2, and 20 : 4 are 5.38 : 1, 9.3 : 1, and 1, respectively.…”

CdO Decorated with Polypyrrole Nanotube Heterostructure: Potent Electrocatalyst for the Detection of Antihistamine Drug Promethazine Hydrochloride in Environmental Samples

“…Furthermore, peaks at 925 and 1040 cm –1 were related to the deformation of the C–C ring present, and a spectral line appeared at 1235 cm –1 showing asymmetric C–H bending vibration and the line at 1311 cm –1 corresponded to antisymmetric C–N stretching. Furthermore, peaks at 1387 and 1594 cm –1 represent N–H bending and CC in ring stretching …”

“…Furthermore, peaks at 1387 and 1594 cm −1 represent N−H bending and C�C in ring stretching. 33 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Morphological Investigation. The synthesized material surface elemental composition was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and is portrayed in Figure S1.…”

High-Performance Negative Self-Powered α-MoO3/Ir/α-MoO3 Photodetectors: Probing the Influence of Coulomb Deep Traps

“…Nonetheless, the functioning of the MoO 3 device is impacted by elevated levels of bulk defects, − leading to instabilities in the flat-band voltage. The presence of these defects becomes evident through several experimental methods, such as trap-assisted electron conduction involving the Poole–Frenkel mechanism, − direct electron injection, and optical absorption .…”